If your pressure washer, generator, or any other type of equipment with a small engine does not start easily, runs poorly, or does not even start at all, it is probably due to residual gas and improper storage. If the unit has not been used for a long period of time (like a winter or since the last hurricane), the residual gas left in the fuel lines, gas tank, or carburetor turns into a varnish-like substance and will gum things up. In this situation, an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure, literally.

Simply put, this problem can be prevented by properly draining the gas out of the fuel system after use and before storing the unit. To repair after you’ve diagnosed the problem, you can first try to clean the fuel system and carburetor. If there is corrosion, you should replace the parts that are corroded instead of rebuilding them.